Newmont Withdraws Arbitration Against Indonesia

In a potential breakthrough over a controversial ore export ban, Newmont Mining Corp. has announced it is withdrawing from arbitration proceedings against Indonesia’s government. Newmont declared force majeure in June while seeking arbitration last month after Jakarta mandated all foreign miners process ore domestically beginning Q1 to increase domestic revenues.

Martiono Hadianto, CEO of Newmont’s Indonesian subsidiary, told Reuters that company representatives and government officials reached a “constructive solution” over renewed production at its Batu Hijau copper asset. Government officials, for their part, said they are awaiting an official notification letter as required for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) from Newmont.

Prior to Q1, Newmont forecast copper output between 110,000 and 125,000 tons from its Indonesian mine in 2014. The Colorado-based firm argued for exemption from the tax, which begins at 25% and increases to 60% by Q3 2016, before a total 2017 concentrate ban, citing conflicts agreements. Newmont has also argued against the ban based on difficulties posed by developing smelters in remote areas crippled by a lack of power and infrastructure.